a drop in the ocean; an extremely small part
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
a drop in the ocean; a tiny fraction of a huge whole
neutralUsed to emphasize the insignificance of a small amount or number compared to a vast total. It implies that the part is so small that its loss or addition makes no real difference.
Zhè这
diǎn点
juān捐
kuǎn款
duì对
tā他
lái来
shuō说
，
bù不
guò过
shì是
jiǔ九
niú牛
yī一
máo毛
。
This small donation is merely a drop in the ocean for him.
Xiāng相
bǐ比
gōng公
sī司
jù巨
dà大
de的
lì利
rùn润
，
zhè这
diǎn点
sǔn损
shī失
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
jiǔ九
niú牛
yī一
máo毛
。
Compared to the company's huge profits, this loss is simply a drop in the bucket.
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Tā他
xiǎng想
tōng通
guò过
jié节
yuē约
yòng用
shuǐ水
lái来
bǎo保
hù护
huán环
jìng境
，
dàn但
gè个
rén人
nǔ努
lì力
bù不
guò过
shì是
jiǔ九
niú牛
yī一
máo毛
。
He wants to protect the environment by saving water, but individual efforts are just a drop in the ocean.